A newly uncovered cybersecurity incident has exposed vulnerabilities in US federal document management systems, according to internal records analyzed by The Washington Post. Career employees at the General Services Administration (GSA) reportedly shared sensitive documents – including White House floor plans and infrastructure blueprints – with over 11,200 agency staff members through an improperly configured Google Drive folder.
The records indicate this practice persisted through both the Trump and Biden administrations. Among the exposed materials were detailed designs for a proposed White House visitor center blast door and financial data from contractors involved in presidential press events. A formal cybersecurity incident report was filed last week following the discovery.
While no external breaches were confirmed, the revelation raises questions about federal data protection protocols. The GSA, responsible for managing $500 billion in government assets including critical infrastructure, has launched an internal review of its digital security practices.
Experts warn such incidents could compromise physical security measures and expose vulnerabilities in interagency operations. The development comes as governments worldwide face increasing challenges in balancing information accessibility with national security requirements.
